Bettiah: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will launch a special ‘Jyotirlinga and Shri Sai Darshan’ religious tour under the Bharat Gaurav tourist train initiative from September 1, offering pilgrims an opportunity to visit several prominent religious and tourist destinations across central and western India.
Details of the tour were shared during a press conference held at Bettiah Railway Station on Thursday. IRCTC Chief Supervisor Sanjeev Kumar, Consultant Dilip Singh and Station Superintendent Vijay Kumar Srivastava briefed the media about the journey.
According to Sanjeev Kumar, the pilgrimage tour will cover eight nights and nine days and will include visits to four Jyotirlinga temples, the Shirdi Sai Baba temple and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ellora Caves.
The itinerary includes Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar Jyotirlingas in Ujjain, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nashik, the Shri Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and the Ellora Caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The tour has also been linked with the Centre’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiatives aimed at promoting domestic tourism and cultural integration.
Boarding available from 12 stations
For the convenience of passengers, boarding facilities will be available at 12 stations across Bihar and nearby areas. Passengers can board the train from Raxaul, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Patliputra, Ara, Buxar, Dildarnagar, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and Prayagraj Chheoki.
All-inclusive package
IRCTC’s all-inclusive package covers rail travel, accommodation, vegetarian meals, local transportation, sightseeing, onboard security and travel insurance.
The fare has been fixed under three categories:
- Economy (Sleeper): Rs 18,160 per person
- Standard (3AC): Rs 32,550 per person
- Comfort (2AC): Rs 39,425 per person
The train will also have a dedicated temple facility where passengers can participate in darshan, aarti and bhajan-kirtan. A pantry car will provide food during the journey.
Around 250 bookings made so far
Bettiah Station Superintendent Vijay Kumar Srivastava said around 250 passengers have booked tickets so far, while the train has a capacity of approximately 550 passengers.
Special discounts will be available for group bookings. Passengers can make online bookings and access detailed information through the IRCTC Tourism website.
Passengers will be required to carry an original identity document during the journey. Cancellation charges will apply according to IRCTC’s applicable rules.
